 |
| Gene Tierney in Dragonwyck (20th Century Fox, 1946) |
"The most exciting news is that Gene Tierney is to have the lead in Forever Amber at 20th. I read the book on the way to New York. 20th will have to do a lot of censoring..." -- Louella Parsons' column, November 28, 1944
"Although the start of Forever Amber at 20th Century Fox is quite some time away, the studio's costume department has already started to work on its end of the picture, and from this source comes the information that the wardrobe for the ambitious and romantic heroine is being made to fit Gene Tierney." -- Fred Stanley, The New York Times, December 3, 1944
"Gene Tierney is practically a sure bet to play Amber in Forever Amber..." -- Sheila Graham's column, October 21, 1945
 |
| Gene Tierney in Heaven Can Wait (20th Century Fox, 1943) |
"Peggy Cummins, the British babe, is the 36th tested by 20th Century Fox for the title role of the girl with the one-track mind in Forever Amber. About 60 will be tried out before a selection is made. Producer William Perlberg says he wants an unknown for the role, since the picture obviously will make the girl a star..." -- Bob Thomas' column, October 29, 1945
 |
| Peggy Cummins, 20th Century Fox makeup and hairstyle test |
"Miss Peggy Cummins, 19, five feet tall, blond, delicately pretty and chalky-faced, was carrying a thick script under her arm. The title of the script was obliterated with black pencil, but Page 1 started off with (we practically had to twist her arm to get a peek) 'Amber looks into a mirror...' But Peggy would confess to nothing except that a 20th Century Fox talent scout saw her on the London stage and shipped her off, a month ago, to Hollywood for 'tests.'" -- Erskine Johnson's column, November 16, 1945
"Gene Tierney Wants Lead In Movie Forever Amber...
Miss Tierney said, 'I'd dye my hair sky blue or pink to play Amber.'" -- Earl Wilson's column, December 6, 1945
 |
| Gene Tierney in A Bell For Adano (20th Century Fox, 1945) |
"Am nearly as sure as death and taxes that next year at this time I won't have to be explaining to you who Peggy Cummins is because her name will be known the length and breadth of the land...As I was the first to tell my readers that Vivien Leigh was chosen as Scarlett, I'll tell you now -- Peggy will play Amber." -- Louella Parsons' column, December 30, 1945
"A blonde, Welsh-born Irish girl of 19 named Peggy Cummins will play the lead in the film version of Forever Amber...Peggy's success as the uninhibited Amber will be a tribute to her acting ability...She has a small, elfin face and appears less like Amber than Alice in Wonderland..." -- Associated Press, January 14, 1946
 |
| Peggy Cummins, 1944 |
"When Peggy Cummins was selected to play the title role in Forever Amber
, she undoubtedly felt herself a very lucky girl...But I wonder if this young English girl is so lucky after all?...The title role in Forever Amber
is a tremendous responsibility, particularly for an unknown actress. Miss Cummins will be fortunate, indeed, if the release of the film doesn't make her forever unknown." -- Jimmy Fidler's column, February 21, 1946
 |
| Peggy Cummins in the aborted version of Forever Amber (20th Century Fox, unreleased) |
"20th Century Fox has suspended filming of Forever Amber, because it has 'failed to measure up to standards,' and Peggy Cummins may be out as the star of the picture..." -- United Press, May 1, 1946
"Peggy Cummins was reported to be ill at her home following the climax of one of the weirdest and most costly producing debacles in Hollywood history...It was disclosed by studio sources that, when the script is rewritten and a new start made on the picture, Miss Cummins will be replaced by another actress..." -- Harold Heffernan, North American Newspaper Alliance, May 1, 1946
"Don't count Peggy Cummins out of Forever Amber yet...'The picture will be started again in September,' she said, 'and as far as I know, I am going to play Amber.' This despite the fact that Gene Tierney, Vivien Leigh, Susan Hayward, Lana Turner and others have been rumored for the role." -- Bob Thomas' column, July 11, 1946
 |
| Linda Darnell in Hangover Square (20th Century Fox, 1945) |
"First big picture to feel the effects of the technicians' surprise walkout would have to be, of course, none but your old friend, much-harrassed Forever Amber
. This much-jinxed affair, called off after its first 35 day start with Peggy Cummins and a cost close to $500,000 may roll up a mishap record of some sort...They say Linda Darnell, with her hair all tinted blonde for Amber, is growing pretty fat while waiting around." -- Harold Heffernan, North American Newspaper Alliance, November 2, 1946
 |
| Costume test for Forever Amber (20th Century Fox, 1947) |
"The troubles that have beset the filming of Forever Amber apparently aren't over. Linda Darnell, who succeeded Peggy Cummins in the title role, went to bed yesterday with a cold and a temperature of 101. The studio announced the production was off until her return." -- Associated Press, November 12, 1946
 |
| Linda Darnell in Forever Amber (20th Century Fox, 1947) |
"'I've got news for you, honey. They've taken all the sex out of Forever Amber,' Linda Darnell told me just before she boarded a plane for three month vacation...'Really, honey,' she said, '[the censors] wouldn't let me do a thing. I didn't even see a bedroom, let alone a bed. They raised the neckline of all my dresses a couple of inches. The other girls in the picture show more than I do. That shadow you'll see following me around in the picture was made by a censor.'" -- Erskine Johnson's column, May 24, 1947
